Rear Window

 Rear Window 1954

• Director: Alfred Hitchcock
• Seen by this director: Torn Curtain, Marnie, The Birds, Psycho, North by Northwest, The Man Who Knew Too Much, The Trouble with Harry, Vertigo, Rope, Notorious, Spellbound, Rebecca, Jamaica Inn, The 39 Steps
• Based on the story by Cornell Woolrich
• Cast: James Stewart, Grace Kelly, Thelma Ritters, Raymond Burr, Wendell Corey
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• James Stewart – The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, The Greatest Show on Earth, Bell Book and Candle, Harvey, The Man Who Knew Too Much, Vertigo, Rope, maybe others
• Thelma Ritter – The Misfits, All about Eve
• Raymond Burr – Perry Mason
• Wendell Corey – TV series
• Why? Stewart
• Seen: Maybe once before. Now: 1 March 2022      

       You probably know the story. Star global news photographer Jeff (Stewart) has been confined to a wheelchair with a broken leg for six weeks with nothing to do but watch the neighbours who conveniently have their windows wide open in the NY heat wave. It’s all very interesting.

       One night he becomes convinced that one of the neighbours has murdered his wife and carried her out in pieces. He gets his girlfriend Lisa (Kelley) and nurse Stella (Ritter) involved in detective work. His friend police detective Tom doesn’t believe him.

       It’s an unlikely story but very clever and it becomes quite exciting. Stella and Lisa are entertaining as the intrepid investigators.

       This was restored with colour added. A pity. I would have preferred the original black and white, but the visuals of the inner court of a block of NY flats are beautifully done.

       And yes, this time I caught the glimpse of Hitchcock visiting one of the neighbours. 

4* of 5